Historic flooding forces long-term closure of Washington state highway as new storm looms

On Tuesday, Gov. Bob Ferguson said a 49-mile stretch of US Highway 2 between Skykomish and Leavenworth will be closed for months after floodwaters and mudslides heavily damaged the roadway.

The shutdown threatens a critical winter travel corridor over Stevens Pass, with steep economic consequences for destinations that rely on holiday tourism, including the Stevens Pass ski resort and the town of Leavenworth. Other major routes, including portions of I-90, US 12, and Highway 410, have also suffered significant impacts, according to state officials.

On Friday, Ferguson announced that President Donald Trump approved Washington’s request for a federal emergency declaration following days of torrential rain and widespread flooding. Ferguson said he received confirmation from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and thanked federal officials for the support.

The declaration, issued through the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), covers 16 counties, Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, and Yakima, along with the Samish Indian Nation and all Tribal Nations within the specified jurisdictions.

During a Tuesday briefing, Ferguson warned that continuing landslides and flood conditions make it difficult to estimate how long critical repairs will take. He called the Highway 2 damage severe and emphasized that crews are racing to restore access, even as portions of the roadway remain submerged.

In King County, officials described mounting pressure on an aging flood-control system. The county’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks said there are more than a dozen weak points across the levee network, some more serious than others. John Taylor, speaking after two recent failures on the Green and White rivers, said levees that typically perform well are now saturating under prolonged storm cycles, weakening and failing under pressure.

Early Tuesday, multiple homes were evacuated in Pacific after a breach along the White River, just hours after another levee-related incident near Tukwila on the Green River. The King County Flood Control District previously acknowledged that barriers installed in Pacific are about 15 years old and “aging and in need of replacement.” State Emergency Management officials said oversight and inspection schedules vary, with responsibility split among federal, local, and regional jurisdictions.

Search-and-rescue resources are also being deployed. Washington State Task Force-1, a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team operated by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management, was mobilized to Skagit County to assist communities affected by flooding. The Type 3 team includes 44 members from public safety agencies, hospitals, and private companies, with specialized water rescue and canine units. Task Force-1 is among 28 such teams nationwide and can deploy within six hours of receiving orders. Additional canine disaster search teams trained by the Seven Search Dog Foundation from FEMA California Task Forces 4 and 7 have also been sent to Washington to help locate survivors.

Officials confirmed at least one death tied to the flooding. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said the driver reportedly went past posted road-closed signs and entered an area of flooded roadway before the vehicle left the road into a ditch or farmland area with about six feet of water.

Forecasters warned of another intense burst of rain and wind Tuesday night into Wednesday, with gusts that could reach 50 mph and rainfall totals exceeding an inch in lowland areas and far more in the mountains. Rivers that rose after Monday’s rain are expected to climb again through Wednesday. As colder air moves in, mountain rain is expected to transition to snow, with winter storm warnings posted for the Cascades and Olympics. Officials said heavier mountain snow later in the week could reduce runoff into already swollen river systems.

Meanwhile, emergency alerts remain in effect across multiple communities. In Tukwila, officials issued a Level 1 “Be Ready” notice for several areas near the Green River after a breach along the Desimone Levee, prompted evacuations and a flash flood warning earlier in the week. In Skagit County, a Level 2 “Get Set” flood watch is in effect for areas within the 100-year floodplain, and landslide concerns have forced residents to leave homes in parts of Concrete.